I love traveling North. It must come from growing up in Michigan where the best place to go was “Up North” in both summer and winter. In the summer, “Up North” meant long days on the lake, boating, swimming, playing, and ice cream to end the day. In the winter, we went north to ski the massive 400′ vertical of Boyne or Crystal Mountain to really push our limits! A few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to head north to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. As soon as we passed Reno, I felt the excitement of my youth.

Stop 1: Burney Falls

Breathtaking. Why have I never stopped here?

Stop 2: McKenzie River Trail

We bike by this beauty and countless others on 26 miles of singletrack.

Stop 3: Mt Hood for summer skiing

Pat skiing smooth summer corn.

Stop 4: Seattle for the Sounders Game and brunch with old friends

Seattle Sounders may have best soccer fans in America.

Rooftop brunch with Greta and Lynette!

Stop 5: Bellingham BBQs and biking

Watermelon cheers on 4th of July

Bringing home the donuts in Bellingham, WA

Stop 6: Whistler aka Outdoor Disneyland

Downhill mtn biking is taken to a whole new level at Whistler

Stop 7: Sushi in Vancouver

Vancouver is known for it good but inexpensive sushi. Here we received pink for girls and blue for boys!

Stop 8: North Cascades National Park

So green up north in the Cascades.

Stop 9: Hart’s Pass, Highest Road in Washington State

PK taking in the view above Hart’s Pass

This lookout was made to mimic the original height of the mountain which was blown off by the military.

Jumping for joy in one of my favorite places of the trip!

Stop 10: Glacier National Park

Lake McDonald sunset

This place is rad

Mountain goats near Logan Pass

The happy couple

Awesome sky over the Many Glacier Hotel

Stop 11: Missoula for our actual anniversary!

Missoula sunset before delicious ice cream at the Big Dipper. YUM!

Stop 12: Bitteroot fly fishing

Trout hunting in Montana

Stop 13: Boise, ID to visit our friend Kellee and her new adorable baby!
(sadly, I took no photos, but it was awesome!)

Final stop: Tahoe – always nice to come back and feels a lot like “Up North.”